Disposable syringe



Sept. 25, 1951 w, FRlEDMAN I 2,568,915

DISPOSABLE SYRINGE Filed April 19, 1949 ui gstrgighe or as z ll seetap Patented Sept. 25, 1951 I UNITED STATES 2,568,915 PIS SAB William riieaihan, L05 Alida, Calif. l ese r 2 :i l le @231 7'Claims. (Cl. 1 28--251) 1 My invention relates to a single-use vaginal Y withdraw yunrolled or unfolded, filled through syringe marketable in extremely compact form the'ne'ck from-an 'f'auc'tl'fused and discarded and in conveniently usable, sanitary condition; whicha 'singlefdosa'ge Heretofore, all vaginal syringes have been 7 H '-s6li 1ble substance iSdisinherently bulky and in price range some of them 5 t1 nteriorl'y pf the sy nge when marketed- SQ costly as to require a multitude of uses to I7 i ljlgolf'siich size amount rel'ativetdthe'fir attract the prospectivepurchasers of same. The eb? Inedical profession recognizes the dangers of such re-use without careful sterilization and recommends boiling of the unit'between uses. In practice, however, this is not done by the average user because of' inconvenience, lack of immediately available sterilizing equipment, etc., resultingin Inanyinstances in seriously inflamed or infected vaginal conditions. Even if sterilized between uses; it is difficult to niaintain the conventional vaginal syringe in sterile or sanitary state in the absence of similarly sanitary containers therefor. The bulkiness thereo'fdften precludes their being packed in limited-space'baggage and invariably v irecludes their being' carried in handbags "for t t r t e or elevational view of one readyand promptfluse when desired; From any enibodimnt of; tlie" invention "in extended posi standpoint of cqnvenience, prior syringes leave tionrjeadyjfor filling, 'th one sction broken much'tobe desired} away} a i. t is an bje t ofvthg prelsent invention t 25 Wig. 2 is a; bottom view,;;taken as indicated by overcome all these disadvantages andshortthe'arrfow' 2, of comings of prior structures. Specifically, the'in- Fig. 'l3'lsh WS the neck and sack folded into vention comprises .an'dclaims the, following .arjacen 0n preparatoryrammi g?" Y rangements and devices of the above me'ntioned 'Figi rolled umt disposed in a typica (A) A single use,v throw-.awayl a in S ringe Figs." 5' and *6 suggs't'alternative foldings or insuring sanitation inuse and inanu'factura'ble'at rollings of the device; r

such lo i cost, that can jbe u's'ed and discarded Fig. 71s af sid evational view of an altern 4 t v 2 z'zgyqrx mi ,;('B) A single-useyaginal,syringe including an F g- 8 s se' i nal View taken along the line H V I i. avawifi -51 ill.- Cd-'22:

internallypassjaged neck and a permanently attached sack formed of such thinffieiriblef'yet substantially nonstretchable material as" to have M no natural distended form and which can be I rly'to vFigs; 1 and 2, the filled andernptied solely through the open pasf l ca "(I generally by"the sage of the neck, being emptied by manualpres- 1 i Y i sureappliedexteriorly to jet a stream of thecon tained liquid high intothe vaginal tract.

(C) A device of; this type in which the sack provides a hinge portion so flexible thatthe sack can be -swung tolany position relative to theaxis of the neck while still not blocking flow of the liquid from the interior of the sackinto and rq h i ap ssa es (11)) Such adevf 1n vvhich thesack can be swun v' o v =-.12Q t s .r rsii e L h' s k being of such thin mate his, to be rollable about "lded eckinto fai cdnibac'tiu it t n o pac eand marketab e in tiers of 9 .2 raiqei hafi fi f ilib :55 Td'r'ri moieyi if l m 3 rials of a less flexible or relatively inflexible type or of hard rubber, metal or even laminated paper or cardboard which may be more or less waterproofed.

The tubular neck II is preferably straight but may be slightly curved, if desired. It should provide a constantly open filling-discharge orifice l4 capable of receiving a stream of water running from a faucet, for example, to fill the sack l2 and should be capable of expelling a stream when the filled sack I2 is manually squeezed,

preferably a stream which is directed high intov the vaginal tract, A single stream is preferable, but this may tend to break up upon discharge or may be intentionally divided into a plurality of streams by the design of the orifice I4 so long as the device remains easily fillable by a stream of water, as distinct from being filled by a lowerj ing of pressure within thesack to subatmospheric value because of its resiliency when external pressure is released-a type of filling not contemplatedby the present invention.

a The sack [2 provides a storage section 20, a hinge portion 2| and an attachment portion 22 of differential size. .It is formed as a completely collapsible membranous sack of extremely thin material which is very flexible but preferably substantially nonstretchable so that when filled, pressure applied to one section will not cause undue localized bowing, swelling or expanding of another section. At the same time, it is desired that the sack have no predetermined form or shape. other than its peripheral shape when flat.

and that it be completely collapsible, with no substantial tendency to assume other than a collapsed shape in the absence of differential internal and external pressures. This is in marked contradistinction to all prior bulbs on syringes which have a natural expanded state toward which they expand in the absence of external manual pressure to create a subatmospheric pres sure therein for the purpose of filling. The sack of the present invention has no normal distended form and no normal internal volume, being normally completely collapsed and substantially volumeless except whenfilled through the tubular neck II. It is characterized by the absence of any bellows-like folds or 'natural distended shape such as would normally be present if the sack were molded of an elastic material, such as rubber.

The sack l2 may be made of any extremely thin material sufficiently waterproof in use to withstand small expelling. pressures and sufiiciently flexible to be rolled or folded about the neck to form a compact unit. The preferred material is a commercial product widely sold under the trade name Pliofilm, an almost transparent rubber hydrochloride, although other flexible but substantially nonelastic plastic materials can be used or even oiled silk, tough waxed or otherwise treated paper, etc. Preferably, the material is almost of tissue paper thinness, e. g., not more than several thousandths of an inch in thickness.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the sack I2 is formed of tubular stock, the rear end of the tube being sealed to form a sealed rear end 24. Such tubular stock can be purchased in rolls and a section cut oil to form the sack, either before or after transverse sealing, which sealing can be accomplished'by use of an adhesive but preferably merely by the use of heat applied locally in a transverse band if the material is of the heat-sealable type, as is Pliofilm. The resulting seam. at "the" rear end '24 should be 4 capable of withstanding the superatmospheric pressure built up in the filled sack when manually squeezed.

Any suitable means can be employed for attaching the sack l2 to the neck II. The attachment is a permanent one and should form a fluid tight junction with the neck II. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the front end of the tubular-stock, sack is contracted or promiscuously pleated to form the attachment portion 22 which surrounds and contacts the inner end portion ll of the tubular neck, to which it can be directly sealed by use of an adhesive, heat or by mere clamping or pressure. If desired, the pleats may be initially heat-sealed together about a mandrel to form an opening for the sack of suflicient size to be slipped'over and sealed to the inner end portion 11. Alternatively, the pleating can be accomplished at 'the same time the sack is sealed to the tubular neck. If a clamping action is desired to insure a fluid-tight joint, a thin clamping or pressure element 25 may be disposed around the pleated attachment portion 22 of the sack. This may be any metallic or nonmetallic ring-like element, preferably with rounded corners or edges, wound or pressed in place, but preferably is a thin band of heat-scalable or adhesive material wound tightly around the attachment portion 22 to compress it against the inner end portion I! of the neck ll, one or more turns being used to insure adequate pressure to effect a seal.

In instances where the device is to be used for medication or treatment, a small watersoluble tablet or other form of medication may be dropped or poured into the sack through the opening in the tubular neck. Preferably, however, and where the device is to be thus used and where it is desired that the device should supply a solution of predetermined strength, a watersoluble substance is disposed inside the unit during the process of manufacture. The preferred arrangement is to place a small watersoluble tablet 21 in the sack before attachment to the tubular neck but the substance can be otherwise contained, as by being coated internally on the material of the sack I2 or tubular neck II or by being mounted within the tubular neck to close the passage l3 only partly to be released or dissolved by the inrushing water during filling. Disposing the substance or tablet 21 in the sack is distinctly preferable in view of its being protected from contamination or from atmospheric moisture by the folding to be presently described. If desired, the tablet 21 may be made of easily 'crushable material to be crushed by finger pressure applied through the sack. Alternatively, the substance may be placed in the sack in powdered or subdivided form and in predetermined amount. However, the use of a quick-dissolving medicated tablet is entirely satisfactory and gives the purchaser confidence in that its presence and size can be determined by inspection or feeling of the unit as purchased. The complete deformability of the sack makes it possible to switch the water to and fro in the sack when initially filled to aid in dissolving the tablet and produce a uniform-strength solution.

The amount of material in the tablet is correlated with the distended volume of the sack l2 to produce a solution of predetermined and mini mized strength when the device is filled with water. By making the sack of substantially nonstretchable material, its volume is maximized and this makes possible the preparation ofa so income sit-menu rimerentirelycreme-rounds ':'rn m ngeportion' z lof thesack l l is portant feature of -the invention. ltfipermitsathe tubular neck' to be folded rearwardlytoflie along the' s'ack l2, in the positionishown in:Figsii, while foi' i'mng an efie'ctive seal for the interiorrof the sackagainst contamination, atmosphericxsmois ture, etc. When the CdeViceJhasibeenIfiHed and in use, theihingetportionrfl "forms a flexible eonmotion between. the sackI-and the tubular heck, permitting the former. .tozbeswung .into any :con venient position for expelling-the. liquid contents by' manual pressure applied externally --to the sack. This featureegives a freedom rinll'Se -n0t commonto priorbulb-:typeasyri es.

when the device: 'has been -folded i into =-the configuration of Fig. 3,.jthe corners .-of -the sack l2 maybe broughttogether around the {tubular neck M ami-the sack then rolled around; the -neck ipto the rcompact form suggested :in Fig, 4. This rolling: additionally seals the interior-of 1 the sack against ingress or ,egress of ain -and ,;provide s a unit in which the initial-sterility ofthetubular neck Il is insured by wrapping-in its gwn at closed by arremovabler cover 3|. The container may be formed of thin aluminum. cardboard, plastic material, etc. and need be of an internal size very little larger than'that of the rolled unit. Thematic of diameter to 'lengthxhasfb'een "increased in Fig. 4 merely for purpose of clarity in illustration. In practice, the device can be rolled into a unit 'little larger'in 'diamter than the tubular neck itself, making for convenience "in carrying one"or'more"'of' the units in handbfags anupb'cketsan'dfor dispensing'in'suitable'quipment in public washrooms or' for convenient packaging when initially soldin quantity -If an even more compact unit-is desired'for'if it is desired thatthe'ratio'of'neck'length to sack length be increased over that suggested in Fig. 3, the neck can be folded back on itself, as suggested in Fig. 5, before rolling within the sack. Even multiple folds of the neck can be employed. If the sack is of sufficient length, it may also be folded back upon itself, separately or encompassing the folded neck, and the unit then rolled to cause the sack to surround and protect the folded neck.

Alternatively, the already-rolled unit of Fig. 4 can be folded back upon itself to form a unit of decreased length, preparatory to packaging, or the longitudinally rolled unit of Fig. 4 can be rolled about itself, as suggested in Fig. 6 so that the longitudinal axis of the tubular neck is in spiral form or circular form and so that an extermely compact and somewhat disclike shape is achieved. Compact packages, suitable to the ultimate shapes suggested in Figs. 5 and 6 and discussed above, can be employed. The unit can be unrolled and any minor crimping of the neck, due to any folding thereof, removed by localized transverse squeezing to return th neck to tubular or circular form and reimpart the desired rigidity for use.

The embodiment of Figs. 7-9 differs primarily imthewfiiarinerpfiformingthe sack:I2. Here-the saelcis formedzfrom two sheets bfmateriahsuch as: "ZPliofilm ,"r sealed: to fornn an 1 end seam 3 5 at the rear end- 0ft the sackcand'side s'eams 36-201. ==a

contour. to. determine the. shape "of 2 the sack when J'fiat. -Such seams can be made by the nsexofi.suitableadhesive or by heat-bonding oft-hesheets- "The seams "36. are -pre'feraibly 'ma'de in curved paths, substantially I as suggested in Fig. ls-tweliminatedargely orcompletely -anyfolds or pieats adjacent'or below the hinge portion-2 I.

The-seams 36 extend to the -ia-tta;chment.=- portion IZEWhiChi-iSJOf a s'ize to'receive thetubula'r neckand -be secured thereto'rby' any'of themeans previously suggested. In Figs. '7' and 9 I the seams. '36 are: shown ifolded peripherally of the attach ment portion 22 and 'surrounded by a thin clamp ingior holdirig element 38;similar to the element -Z 5 previouslydescribed. I Alternatively;z=- the seams 36: can ibesfo'lded in thisTmanneran-d. heat-fsealed oriadhered in place, without' 'use" of any "element 38 -tl're'-tubul ar; neck 1'1 1 beingasuitably adheredor bonded to the attachmentportion 2-1. 'lheridevicefican f be. sanitized 'during' manufacture ar-ld'will -remain in such condition until withdrawnifroin -the tube' iill. it can thenfbe unfol ded or unrolled"and-thetubular neck I-tl held underm. faucet toifill an'ddistendr-the='sack 4 2. Manual "pressu'refapplied=to'the 'sackavill swish the water therein to-insure dissolving the' capsule'il, if -used, and forming a' uniformly-concentrated solution. During use of therdevice,the sack i2 c'an be swung to any convenient position and manual external pressure tinany desired degree ean-be aippliedwto jetrthe' liquidthighintoitlie vagina-l tract. -=It is "-a feature oflthe inventionr-thatany rel'ease of such pressureiwill notfcreate 'a reducedxpressure L within ithe sacksiifiicienbto draw ther'eintovanymircusf'oripreviously ekpelled liquid.

The cheapness of the un'imma-kes it-zfeasibledor the fii's-t' time to 'discardzit after'asingler use. The unitrbansbe disposed ofaini any convenient-recap: ta'cleorf-can bev flushed? into *sewage systems. thfillttBl'idiSDdSitidflsiS desired, it quite'fe'asibie to make the device of material sufficiently waterproof to" stand "up "under the I intended use butrtbazgra'dually weaken, disintegrate and dissolve uponvihxmersioh in water -for *a reasonable length-of time. 1

The invention as claimed herein defines novel features and combinations of the preferred embodiments of the invention but it will be apparent that various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined. The preceding portion of this specification indicates features. coactions and combinations which I believe and claim to be new as a. part of my invention and which are to be broadly construed as to equivalents. The same is true as to the following specific claims expressing specific features, coactions and combinations.

I claim:

'1. As an article of manufacture, a single-use sanitary vaginal syringe comprising: a tubular neck providing inner and outer end portions and a longitudinal passage extending completely therethrough from end to end, said passage providing an open filling-discharge orifice at said outer end portion and an open inner orifice at said inner end portion; and a completely collapsed membranous sack formed of thin flexible but substantially nonstretchable material and providing a hinge portion permanently attached to said inner end portion of said tubular neck 75 and communicating with said open irmer orifice,

means.

7 said sack being distendable into container form of predetermined volume by filling with .water, said filling-dischargeorifice and said longitudinal passage forming the sole communication with the interior of said sack and comprising the sole means whereby saidv sack. may .be'distendedand filled with water, said water being expellable through said longitudinal passage and said filling-discharge orifice. by manual pressure applied exteriorly of said sack, said hinge portion permitting said sack to swing at any angle relative to said neck, while still permitting said water: to be thus expelled, said sack being formed of. such thin collapsible material as to be void of any natural distended shape therebyv preventing any indrawing of such expelled water into said sack upon release of said manual pressure.-

.2. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 1, in which said sack provides side walls collapsed into contact withaeach other andsealed together at a peripheral portion to be water-.- tight even upon application of said water-expelling manual pressure.

,3. An article of. manufacture as defined in claim 1, including a single dosage of water-soluble substance within said sack, the substantially nonstretchable material maximizing thevolume of water insertable in said sack during filling to dissolvesaid substance and produce a solution of predetermined and minimized strength.

4- As an article of manufacture, a rolled unit unfoldable into a single-use throw-away vaginal syringe and comprising a tubular neck and a completely collapsed sack connected to one end of saidtubular neck and folded back alongsaid neck and rolled therearound as a multilayer protective cover, said-sack encompassing said tubular neck substantially throughout the length of the latter to protect: same against contamination prior to use of the syringe.

5; As an article of manufacture, a single-use disposablevaginal syringe comprising: atubular neck providing inner and outer end portions and a longitudinal passage extending completely therethrough from end to end, said passage providing an open filling-discharge orifice at said outerend portion andan open inner orificeat said inner end portion; and a membranous sack formed of thin flexible but substantially nonstretchable material and providinga hinge por-'- tion'. attached to said inner end portion 01' said tubular neck and communicating with said open inner orifice, said sackproviding side walls collapsible into surface contactwith each other to expel substantially all air from the interior of said sack, said hinge portion permitting said sack to'be swung to a position in whichit lies along saidtubular neck, said sack being rolled about said neck to form a compact unit and to protect said neck against contamination prior to use of. thesyringe, said sack being unrollable and then distendable into container form of predetermined volume by filling with water through said filling-discharge orifice, said water being expellable through said longitudinal passage and said filling-discharge orifice by manual pressure applied exteriorly of said sack.

GAAnarticle of manufacture as defined in claim 5 inwhich said sack is formed of such thin material as to be substantially void of any natural distended shape upon unrolling, thereby substantially preventing indrawing of air before filling and substantially preventing any sack-induced REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file'of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number U 4 Name Y Date 967,125 Huppert Aug. 9, 1910 2,111,622 Martin et al May 17, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Germany Jan. 15, 1916 

